Container for fruit-canning apparatus



June 28, 1927. ,633,856

A. T. GAHAN CONTAINER FOR FRUIT CANNING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 27. 1926 710 3 F129;] Fig 2 O Q o o o o o o o o o o INVENTOR.

.TGahan BYZY ATTORNEY Patented June 28, 1927.

ALBERT T. GAHAN, OF STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA. I

CONTAINER FOR FRUIT-CANNING APPARATUS.

Application filed September 27, 1926. Serial No. 137,908.

This invention relates to fruit canning apparatus, and especially to the containers for the cans of fruit used in connection with the apparatus and 'methodfor canning figs shown and described in my co-pending application for patent, filed July 7th, 1926, Serial No. 120,969.

In carrying out this method the raw figs are placed in the cans and the precooking 0f the figs and all subsequent operations are then carried out after the ligs are in the cans. In connection with this method I employed and showed containers for holding a number of cans, already filled with figs, and screens to be detachably placed over the containers almost in contact with the open mouths of the cans. This wasto prevent the figs from falling out when the containers were up ended, while enabling free access of water and syrup to'the cans.

Cans of one size should contain a given number of figs of a certain gradedsize. I have found from experience, however, that raw figs are larger than when cooked and therefore the same number of figs which when cooked will fit into the cans will not fit into said cans when the figs are raw. lVith the previous type of container used this either necessitated pressing down the raw figs so that they did not project above the top of the cans, or. else ad'ditional'figs had to be placed in the cans after the figs had been precooked and contracted, in order to raise the count to the requirednumber. The first operation tended to damage the figssomething which. my improved apparatus and method was intended to avoid whilethe second operation consumed too much time to becommercially practicable.

The principal object of my presentinvention therefore is to provide a container structure for the cansso arranged that the figs when'raw may project'above and even spill out from the top of the cans withoutthe possibility'of'such figs passing to another can, or being lost from the con.- tainer, and so that the figs when cooked "can easily drop into place in their respective cans. This enables, the proper number of figs to be placed in the cans while they are raw, and at the same time prevents any pos-.

sibility of damage to the figs being hadby the exercise ofpressure thereon.

A further object of: the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts inthe several views:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of the container itself.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the sub-division or compartment member. I

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the screen member.

Fig. 4' is a longitudinal section of the container and all' parts assembled therein, together with the cans and their containers.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the container 1 is arectangular member of predetermined size to receive a certain number of cans 2 in fairly close relationship, the sidesof the container however being considerablyhigherthan the height of the cans. The bottom of the container is perforated in any suitable manner, so as to allow of a circulation of water therethrough.

Intermediatethe top and bottom of one of the long sides of the container andcentrally of-the length thereof, said side is provided with an outwardly projecting eye .3, so that the container can be supported-by andsuspended from a conveying means such as is shown in the above identified application. Arranged to snugly fit the container and to be insertedifrom the top thereof is a rectangular frame memberdhaving longitudinal and transverse vertically disposed cross plates-5 'to divide said frame into the same number of square compartments as there are cans, said plates being adapted to project between adjacent edges of adjacent cans, which snugly fit in the compartments. This frame is supported .so that thetop of the cans will' be between the topandbot-tom edges ;of the cross plates by horizontal flanges 6 secured in the containers at the corners thereofs 7 Arranged to rest on the top offlthe frame 4 is another rectangular frame 7 covered by a screen 8-; -To mount thescrecn frame in place and prevent" displacement of the same when the container is tipped up so that the ILU vil

screen lies in a vertical plane, what corresponds to the vertical members of said frame project at both ends beyond the horizontal frame members as at 9 to fit in holes 10 properly located in the corresponding sides of the container. The extensions to fit in the holes in the side of the container to which the eye 3 is fastened (and which becomes uppermost when the container is engaged by the conveying means) are longer than the opposite one. The frame is also a lesser height than the distance between the corresponding opposite sides of the container. When placing the screen frame therefore the longer extensions 9 are slid into their corresponding holes first, and until the opposite end of the frame and the adjacent extensions clear the adjacent side of the container. The frame is then lowered into place and retracted so that the short extensions enter their holes. Then when the container is tipped so that the eye 3 is vertically disposed the screen frame cannot fall out, as will be evident.

In operation the frame 4 is mounted in place before the cans are inserted and filled with figs. The figs 11 being placed into the cans in a raw state project somewhat above the tops of the cans, but the screen never contacts therewith, since tne frame l prevents the screen coming close to the tops of the cans. If the figs should spill out from the cans when the container is tipped up, they cannot become lost since they are confined in the individual compartments formed by the cross plates of the frame 4, which plates are the same height as the sides of the frame itself. The corner spaces of the compartments outwardly of the cans are smaller than any figs cooked or uncooked so that said figs cannot drop therethrough. Therefore when the container is again righted after the figs have been cooked and contracted, all the figs for each can will remain associated therewith and will fall of themselves into place in their respective cans.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that I have produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention, as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: r

1. In fruit canning apparatus, an open topped container to receive a number of cans in horizontally alined relation, a frame member divided into a number of verticalsided compartments to be supported in the container so that the compartment-sides project part way between adjacent cans, and a foraminous cover over and adjacent said frame.

2. In fruit canning apparatus, an open topped container to receive a number of cans in horizontally alined relation, a frame member divided into a number of vertical-sided compartments to be supported in the container so that the compartment-sides project part way between adjacent cans, and a removable screen-frame to fit the container and lie over and adjacent the first named frame. v

3. In a fruit canning apparatus, an open topped container to receive a number of cans in horizontally alined relation, a frame member divided into a number of vertical-sided compartments to fit in the container so'that the compartment-sides project between adjacent cans, means for removably supporting the frame so that the top of the sides thereof is above the tops of the cans, and a foraminous cover member to lie over and adjacent said frame. I

t. In fruit canning apparatus,:a container to receive a number of horizontally alined open cans disposed with their open ends facing upwardly, and a frame member to removably fit in the container so that the top of the frame is above the tops of the cans;

said frame being divided into a number of vertical sided compartments to register with and fit over the cans.

5. In fruit canning apparatus, a container to receive a number of horizontally alined open cans disposed with their open ends facing upwardly, a frame member to removably fit into the container and divided into a number of vertical-sided compartments to register with and fit over the cans, and means between the container and frame for supporting the latter so that thecans will project into the frame-compartments for less than the full height thereof.

6. In fruit canning apparatus, a container to receive a number of horizontally alined open cans disposed with their open ends facing upwardly, a frame member to removably fit into the container and divided into .a number of vertical-sided compartments to register with and fit over the cans, and angle plates in the corners of the container to support the frame in such a position that the cans will project only part way into the frame-compartments.

7. In fruit canning apparatus, a container to receive a number of horizontally alined open cans disposed with their open ends facing upwardly, a frame member divided into a number of vertical sided compartments arranged to be supported so that the compartment sides project part way between adjacent cans, a foraminous cover to fit the container, and means between said cover and container for removably holding the cover in place adjacent and over the frame.

8. In fruit canning apparatus, a container to receive a number of horizontally alined open cans disposed with their open ends facing upwardly, a frame member divided into a number of vertical sided compartments arranged to be supported so that the compartment sides project part Way between adjacent cans a foraminous cover to lit the container, the Width of said cover being less than that of the container, and extensions projecting beyond the cover from both ends parallel to the sides thereof and adapted to fit into orifices provided in thecorresponding sides of the container; the Width 01 the container being slightly greater than ALBERT T. GAI-IAN. 

